Apparatus for producing gas.



J. J. NIX & W. H. FROST.

' APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING (ms.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII EB. 18, 1907. 900,010. Patented Sept. 29, 1908. V

r 3 SSSSSSSSS BET 1.

J. J. NIX & w. H. FROST.

Patented Sept 29, 1908.

' -54 Kr. n (7' a SHEBTSESHEET 2. v

J. J. NIX & W. H. FROST. APPARATUS FOR PRODUGING GAS.

- APPLICATION FILED PEB.18, 1907.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED srATEs onnron. I

JOSHUA J. NIX AND WARREN .1. FRos'r, or Los 'ANeELEscaLIFoRnIA; SAID NIX ASS'IGNOR To s un raos'r.

- nrranhrus r'on iznonulcms GAS.

I No. 900,010.

To all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that we, JOSHUA J. NIX and WARREN H. FRos'r, citizensof the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Aplparatus for Producing Gas, of which the f0 owing is a specificat1on.-

This invention relates particularly; to the production of gas for use 1n internal combustion engines, although the gas may be used for other pur oses.

The mam 0 j ect of the presentinvention is to produce gas from hydrocarbon oils in a r continuous manner by internal combustion.

Another object of the present invention is to dispense with the necessity of any storage tanks. Y

Another object of the invention is to pro vide for the production of gas of uniform quality or composition.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the production of gas having a larger proportion of fixed hydrocarbon gases than is the case with ordinary producer 'gas.

Another object of the invention is to provide for automatic regulation of the gas production forfluctuations in the demand.

The present process is distinguished from those processes usin retorts, in that the'heat for production and Xation of the gas is generatedinternally, that is to say, in the same chamber or space which contains the hydrocarbon to be gasified, so that the heat does not have to be transmitted through the walls.

Said retort processes are not suitable for the production of gas from heavy hydrocarbons, 1n that the accumulation of residuum and deposits interferes seriously with the continuity and economy of the process and with the uniformity of the gas, and also in that'the exense of such production is prohibitive.

he process of the present invention is also distinguished from those processes involving internal combustion intermittently with the gas generation, the heat being a plied to and stored in a chamber or body and tion of the heat being then stopped and shifted to another pointand the as being generated by a plylng the oil to he chamber or body so lieated. In this intermittent or alternate process the qu'ality'of the gas necessarily varies during each stage, as the temperature of the chamber or heating body rapidly falls andthe character of the generthe generapi e 9. i-Ieating burners 10,

Specification of Iiettera Patent. y I Patented Sept. 29, 1908. Application flled s 'cbruary 18,}1907. Serial No. 358,152. f

ated gasv-aries with the falling temperature.

This variation is equalized in practice by the i ing means or burners, the reaction or mutual action of the oil and of the gaseous contents vof the heating zone'being such as to produce a permanent gas. These 0 erations are performed in a chamber which is open to communication with the outer air, and is connected at its upper ortion to a suction means continuously fiawing the produced gas from the chamber.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus partly in elevation. Fig. 2 is a horlzontal section on the line w a: in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line a: w in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of'the generator feed or sup ly. Fig. 6 is an end elevation thereof. ig. 7 is a front elevation of the heating burner. Fig.

8 is a horizontal section thereof.

The apparatus comprises a furnace or generator 1 preferably formed of masonry or other heat-resisting material and formed with an interior vertlcal chamber 2 and a flue 3 leading upwardly therefrom to a discharge outlet at the top into an outlet conduit 4, having an upwardly inclined extension 5 into a stack 6. Said stack is provided with a closurevalve 7, and an aspirator 8 is connected to the stack or to the outlet flue 5 to draw the gas therefrom into delivery pipe 12, as hereinafter set forth, said aspirator being actuated by water supplied by of which there may be any desired number, are provided, discharging inwardly into the chamber 2, said burners being provided with air and oil supply -means, as hereinafter set forth, and having outlet means or jet pieces 11, whose openings are directed obliquely downward into the chamber 2 near enough to the bottom thereof to keep the bottom well heated, avoiding deposition of carbon thereon.

Means are provided for sup lying oil, or a mixture of oil and air suita l e for the gas to be roduced, below the flame or flames from t e burner or burners 10, said means consisting of an inlet pipe 15 extending through the wall of the generator and connected to an oil feed as hereinafter described, to furnish a supply of atomized oil, together with air, to t e ower part of the chamber 2. The said supply means for this outlet, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, com rises an oil supply pipe 17, a chambered tting 18 connected to said oil supply pipe by a connecting member 19, a glass ortransparent tube 20 connecting said oil supply pipe with the chamber 21 in said fitting so as to produce a sight feed for the supply, and an air supply pipe 22 having a nozz e 23 extending into said chamber to roduce an injector effect therein, the wal of said chamber being narrower at 24 to accentuate said injector effect and cause the mixture of air and atomized oil to pass into the inlet pipe 15.

The upper portion of chamber 2 preferably converges upward to its outlet into flue 3, and said flue may be swelled or enlarged to form a supplementar chamber and may be provided with ba es in the. form of checker work or fire brick obstructions 25 extending across the same to deflect the upwardly passing gases and cause more thorough mixture.

26 .desi nates a door, plug or other means in the wa l for giving access to the chamber 2 in starting up, etc.

In order to heat the oil before it passes to the burners and also in order to cause preliminary separation of the oil, as far as possible, in the manner hereinafter set forth, the tank 27 for containing the oil supply is placed on or.near the generator or furnace in such position as to receive the heat therefrom, for example, being placed thereon around the outlet flue 4, so that the hot gases pass '11 wardly through said flue and heat said tan 28 designates the oil supply pipe to this oil I tank and 53 a plug for drawing off residuum.

29 designates the oil outlet lpipe leading from the lower part ,of the tank t rough pipes 30 and valves 31 to the heating burners 10.

A pipe 34 leads from the upper part of the tank 27 to the supply 17 for the generator burner, and is provided with a valve 36 0perated by connections 37 from a governor 38 on the engine 39 which is supplied with gas from the producer. A connection 56 is made from the delivery pipe 12 through suitable scrubbin means 57, see Fig. 4, to the inlet 55 for t e en ine. A manual valve may also be provi ed for the. oil supply. The connections 37 may also operate a valve 33 controlling the air sup ly to the mixture inlet. The suction of tie engine 39 at each intake stroke tends to draw the gas through the connections between the producer and the engine through the scrubber, not shown, and thereby aids in maintainingl the passage or supply of air and combustib e'to the gas generating chamber. The air supplied to the heating burners is preferably heated by the exhaust from said engine, pi e 32 for said air supply passing around sai exhaust and communicating tirough the valve 40 with pi e 42 for the said burners. This air is supp ied at a considerable pressure generated by any suitable means, such as a pump not shown.

While various forms of heating burners may be used in connection with the apparatus, that shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is especially designed for this purpose, the burner head 11 being attached to a'plate 43 secured to the wall of the generator chamber, said plate having openings 44 for the passage of an extending obliquely therethrough so as to converge toward the burner jet 0 ening 45 which is formed in a head or nozz e 11 projecting from the base of a conical depression 46 in said plate. Dam er means consisting of a late 47 is adjusta ly secured on the supportmg late 43 by means of screws 48 extending t rough slots 49 on said damper plate, the said damper plate having perforations 50 to register more or less with the openings 44 in the sup orting plate. In order to enable quick a justment, for example, on sto )ping the engine, means are provided for in icating accurately the degree of opening of the damper, such means consisting of an index or pointer 51 on the damper moving over a fixed raduated scale 52. Pipe 42 opens laterally into an outer pipe 54 screwing onto the outer end of burner nozzle 11. Said nozzle has a bore 55 smaller than pipe 54. The oil supply pi e 29 extends into the end of pipe 54 eyon the opening of pipe 42.

he process is carried out in the above described apparatus as follows :Closure or valve 7 in t e stack is opened and the heating burners 10 are turned on and ignited, the jets in said burners extending into the chamber 2, heating the same, and the hot ases. assing up through the flue 3 and out t iroug the stack. When the chamber 2 has thus become thoroughly heated, the damper 7 in the stack is closed, the aspirator 8 is turned on so as to draw the gases downwardly through the delivery pipe 12 to any suitable consumption means, for example, the engine 39, or service pipes not shown; and the valves 40, 31 for the mixture or producing supply means are turned on, causing a su ply of atomized oil together with just sufiicient air to carry the same is thereby blown into the lower part of the chamber 2. The two jets from the opposite burners 10 meet in the middle of the furnace, and by their impingement and opposition mutually arrest each other and produce a zone or layer of intensely heated gases extending'across the chamber at a level between the lower and upper portions thereof and above the intake of the producing mixture. The mixture is applied unde r the pressure of, say 20 pounds to the square inch, and the same is true of the oil, and this together with the suction bythe aspirator and the suction of the engine or consuming means, causes a flow of the producing mixture upwardly through or'into this high temperature zone. The chamber 2 is open to the outer air through the openings 44, and the air compressed and forced in with the oil is not sufficient to support combustion, the oil so carried in .burmng in the open chamber and the combustion being supported by the air passing through openings 44. We thus insure complete combustion of the oil and maximum temperatureof the heating flame, Without compression of more than asmall part of the air and with a correspondingly great economy. The suction of the products-of combustion, from the top of the chamber, by the en inc and the aspirator, keeps the products 0 combustion away from the incoming combustible and air, thus aiding in maintaining-perfect combustion at the heating burners. The condition of suction maintained in the chamber is also of advantage, as compared with a condition of pressure, for mechanical reasons,-in preventing leakage and reducing the strains on the parts of the furnace.

In the above described construction the interior of the chamber is clear or free of solid obstructions, such as brick or checkwork, in the path of the jets. Consequently there is no liability of deposition of carbon on solid surfaces. This is further insured by the fact that each of the heating jets is impinged by an opposing elastic fluid jet (namely, .the

other burner jet) which arrests it in the interior of the chamber, and prevents it from impinging on the opposite wall. The vertical disposition of the chamber is also of importance in this connection as it permits of the jets being arranged in this manner.

The baffle devices 25 in 'the'outletflue are for the purpose of insurin 'more thorough mixture of the gases an complete combustion. By proper adjustment ofthe heating burners and producing inlet valves, it is possible to maintain continuity of the process for an almost indefinite length of time, pro-' ducing gas of uniform quality ready for instant delivery to the service or consumption means without having to be storedor mixed.

For this reason and also for the very fact that the process is continuous, the capacity of the plant is large compared with one of the same size using the intermittent process.

- It will be noted that the oil is supplied to the oil tank at a point between the upper and lower portions thereof and that the outlet to the heating burners is from the lower portion, and the outlet to the producing inlet as they could not be satisfactorily atomized in the manner required. Anyvolatile constituents of the oil will pass off at the top along with the lighter oil and will form part of the producingmixture. Actual residuum which is not suitable for burning, collects in the oil tank 22 below the outlet to the heating burner and may be drawn oil from time to time by theplug 53;

, In case of fluctuating demand, means are tion dispenses with the use of a storage tank as and therefore it is necessary to cut down or increase the supply in response to the diminishing or increasing demand. For example, in case of a producer used in connection with a gas engine, it is necessar to reduce or 1ncrease the supply in accorc ance with the demands of the engine, and for this purpose the connection from the engine governor to the oil supply for the producing inlet is provided as above described. j

The upwardly inclined extension 5 of the outlet, leading to the stack, is found to. be essentialto securing the proper draft, both in starting the draft into the stack and in maintaining it by the aspirator.

When the producer is used in connection with-a gasengine we prefer to make the capacity of the chamber 2 cor aspond, roughly s eaking, to the capacity of the engine cylin-' er, the throat or outlet portion 3 being in that caseof'such size as to represent the vol- &

. chamber open to communication with the chamber to withdraw gas t outer air, burner means adjacent to thbottom of the chamber to heat the same internally, means for admitting hydrocarbon to the chamber between the bottom of the charm her and the heating burners and suction means connected to the u per part of the iierefrom.

2. An apparatus for producing gas from liquid hydrocarbons, comprising a chamber open to communication with the outer air,

- near the bottom of the chamber, provided with means for projecting a flame downward to thereby heat the chamber internally, means for admitting hydrocarbon to the chamber between the bottom of the chamber and the jet from the burner means, and means for continual suction of gas from the chamber, above the jet from the burner means.

3. An apparatus for producing gas from liquid hydrocarbons, comprising a chamber, burner means communicating with the chamber to heat the same internally, inwardly converging air inlets surrounding said burner means and communicating with the outer air, means for injecting hydrocarbon with an elastic compressed fillld to the chamber below the jet from the burner means, and means for continual suction of gas from the chamber, above the jet from the burner means.

4. An apparatus for producing gas from liquid hydrocarbons, comprising a chamber open to communication with the outer air, burners extending oppositely to. direct into said chamber, downwardly extending jets which impinge on one another adjacent to the bottom, means for admitting hydrocarbon to the chamber between said bottom and the said jets, and means for continuously drawing ofl' gas from the chamber above the said jets.

5. An apparatus for producing gas from liquid hydrocarbons, comprising a chamber open to communication with the outer air, burner means communicating with the chamber, the interior of the chamber being clear of solid obstructions in the path of the jets from said burner means, means for op osing an elastic fluid jet, to the jet from t e burner means, means for supplying hydrocarbon, with an elastic fluid, to the chamber, below the said jets, and suction means connected to the chamber above the said jets, to draw gfl the gases from the upper part of the chamer. 6. A gas generator comprising a chamber, a burner-communicating mto said chamber to generate a zone of high temperature gases, and means for supplying hydrocarbon .to the chamber below the said zone, the said chamber being unobstructed between the levels of said burner and hydrocarbon sup ly means and having an outlet above the said zone and means for continuously withdrawing gas 'from said outlet.

7. An a paratus for producing gas from heavy hy rocarbons, comprising means for separating the heavier from the lighter portion of the hydrocarbon, means for burning the heavier portion of the hydrocarbon to form a zone of gases at high temperature, and means for passing the lighter portion of the hydrocarbon into and through such zone.

8. An apparatus for the production of gas from hydrocarbons, comprising a chamber, burner means extending into communication with the chamber to generate in the chamber a zone of high temperature gases, producing inlet means opening into the chamber to direct thereinto beneath the said zone, a mixture containing the liquid hydrocarbon with an elastic fluid carrier medium therefor, the

"chamber being 0 en to communication with the outer air and eing free from obstructions between the burner means and the producing inlet means, and delivery means for conveying the produced gases from above the said zone, com rising a flue above the chamber having re ractory baffle means and provided with an outlet.

9. An apparatus for the production of gas from hydrocarbons, comprising a chamber, burner means extending into communication with the chamber to generate in the chamber a zone of high temperature gases, producing inlet means opening into the chamber to direct thereint beneath the said zone, a mixture containin the liquid hydrocarbon with an elastic flui carrier medium therefor, an oil supply tank, the chamber having outlet means passing in heating relation to the oil tank to heat the oil therein and pipes connectin the said tank with the burners and with t e hydrocarbon supply for the producer, and delivery means'for conveying the produced gases from above the said zone.

10. An apparatus for the production of gas from hydrocarbons, comprising a chamber,

burner means extending into communication with the chamber to generate in the chamber a zone of high temperature gases, producing inlet means opening into the chamber to direct thereinto beneath the said zone, a mixture containin the liquid hydrocarbon with an elastic flui carrier medium therefor, an oil supply tank, the chamber having outlet means passing in heating .relation to the oil tank to heat the oil therein and pipes con necting the said tank with the burners for heating the chamber and with the hydrocarbon supfply for the producer, and delivery means or conveying the produced gases from above the said zone.

11. An apparatus for the production of gas from hydrocarbons, comprising a chamber,

. having an outlet for such gas, a gas engine,

burner means extending into communication with the chamber to generate in the chamber,

a zone of high temperature gases,p1foducing inlet means opening into the chamber to direct thereinto, beneath the said zone,a mixture containin the liquid hydrocarbons with carrier medium therefor, an oil supply tank, the chamberhaving outlet" an elastic flui means passing in heating relation to the oil tank to heat the oil therein and pipes connecting the lower part of the said tank with the burners'and the upper part of: said tank with the hydrocarbon supply for the'producer, delivery means for conveying the roduced gases from above the said Zone/an an oil inlet to the tank between such upper and lower parts. I

12. A gas generator comprising a chamber, means for continuously su plying air thereto at substantially atmosp eric pressure, burner means for continuously producing a zone of high temperature in the chamber, means for continuously supplyingcombustible to the chamber with an elastlc fluid medium to continuously generate as therein at high temperature, said cham er connections between said outlet and'the' gas engine whereby the gas generator supplies the gas for the engine, and'the suction of the engine aids in maintaining the passage of air and combustible through the chamber, a governor operated by the engine and means I operated by the governor for regulatin the supply of combustible admitted to the c amber of the generator according to the demands of the engine.

' 13. A gas generator comprising a chamber, means for continuously su plying air thereto at substantially atmosp eric pressure, burner means for continuously producing a zone of high temperature in the chamber, means for continuously supplying combustible to the chamber with an elast1c fluid medium to continuously generate gas therein at high temperature, said chamber having an outlet for such gas, a gas engine, connections between such outlet and the as engine whereby the gas generator supp 'es the gas for the engine, and the suction of the engine aids in maintaining the passage of air and combustible through the chamber, an exhauster in the connections between the chamber and the engine to rovide for continual exhaust 'from the c amber, a governor operated by the engine and means operated by the governor for, regulatin the supply, of combustible admitted to the c a ber of the generator, according to the I emands of the engine.

14. A gas generator comprising a chamber, means for continuously su plying air thereto at substantially atmosp eric pressure, burner means for continuously producing a zone of high temperature inthe chamhaving an outlet for such gas,

' plies the ber, means for continuously su ber,- meansfor continuously su plying combustible to the chamber wit an elastic fluid medium to continuously generate as therein at high temperature, said chamber a gas engine, connections between such outlet and the gas engine whereby the gas generator supgas for the engine, and the suction of the en ine aids in maintaining the passage of air an combustible through the chamber, an exhauster in the'connections chamber and the engine to provide for continual exhaust from the chamber, a scrubber 1n said connections, a governor operated by the engine and means 0 erated by the governor for regulating t e su ply of combustible admitted to the cham er of the generator, according to the demands of the engme. I

15. A gas generator comprising a champlying air thereto at substantially atmosp sure, burner means for continuously, pro-, ducing a zone of high temperature in the chambelymeans for continuously supplying combustible to the chamber with an elastic fluid medium to continuously generate gas therein to produce a zone of high temperature, and an inlet for sup ly of hydrocarbon with expansive fluid, be ow said zone the chamber being unobstructed between the levels of said burners andinlet, said chamber having an outlet for. the gas above said burners, a gas engine, and connections between said outlet and the gas engine where by the gas generator supplies the gas for the engine, an the suction of the engine aids in maintaining the passage of air and combustible through the chamber.

16. Agas generator comprising a chamber, means for continuously su plying air thereto at substantially atmosp er1c pressure, burner means for continuously pro ducing a zone of. high temperature in the' chamber, means for continuously supplying combustible to the chamber fiuidmedium to continuously generate gas therein to produce a zone of high temperature, and an inlet for supply of hydrocarbon with expansive fluid, be ow said zone, the chamber being unobstructed between said burners 'andinlet, said chamber having an between the with an elastic outlet for the gas above said burner, a gas engine, connect-ions between said outlet and the as engine whereby the gas re ulating the sup 1y of com ustible ad.

enerator supp les the gas for the. engine, and the sucmltted to the cham er of the generator, ac-

cording to the demands of the engine. 17. A gas generator comprising a chamber, means for continuously supplying an thereto at substantially atmospheric pressure, burner means for continuously producing a zone of high temperature in the chamber, means for continuously supplying combustible to the chamber with an elastic fluid medium to continuously genera e gas therein at high tem erature, said comprising opposing urners each impinging its jet on t at of the other burner, to roduce a zone of high temperature, an an inlet for supply of hydrocarbon with exansive fluid, below said zone, the chamber ein unobstructed between said burners and inlet, said chamber having an outlet for the gas above said burners, a gas engine, connections between said outlet and the as engine whereby the gas (generator supp ies the gas for the engine, an the suction o the engine aids in maintaining the passage of air and combustible through the chamber, a governor operated by the engine, means operated by thegovernor for regulating the supply ofcombustible admitted to the chamber of the generator, accordin to the demands of the engine, and an ex auster connected to the outlet from the chamber to continuously exhaust the gas therefrom.

18. A gas generator comprising a chamber, means for continuously su plying air thereto. at substantially atmosp eric pressure, burner means for continuously producing a zone of high temperature in the chamber, means for continuously supplying combustible to the chamber with an elastic fluid medium to continuously generate gas therein at high temperature, said means comprising opposin burners each impinging its jet on that of t e other burner, to roduce a zone of high temperature, an an inlet for supply 0 hydrocarbon with expansive fluid, below said zone, the chamber bein unobstructed between said burners and inlet, said chamber having an outlet for the gas above said burners, a gas engine, connections between said outlet and the as engine whereby the gas generator suppfies the gas for the engine, and the suction of the engine aids in maintaining the passage of air and combustible through the chamber, a governor o erated by the engine, means operated by t e governor for regulatin the supply of combustible admitted to the 0 amber of the generator, according to the demands of the engine, an exhauster connected to the outlet from the chamber to continuously exhaust the gas therefrom, and a scrubber in the connections between the generator and the en ine.

In testimony w ereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los An eles, California, this 28th day of January, 19 7.

JOSHUA J. NIX. WARREN H. FROST. In presence of- ARTHUR 4P. KNIGHT, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM. 

